A journey that started nearly a year ago officially ended tonight. From tens of thousands auditioning last summer to one being named the 13th American Idol. For my money, Caleb Johnson and Jena Irene were not only the two most deserving contenders for this season's crown, but they were so by a wide margin. The contentment with knowing that either would be a worthy champion added to a show that returned to the bygone era when IDOL Finales were the highlight of each TV season.
An explosive edition of Idol is in the books as both the remaining finalists performed three times on the Idol stage on last night's AMERICAN IDOL. Relive the best moments of the night below
In Caleb Johnson and Jena Irene, we have the season's only two performers that consistently gave credible, entertaining performances, and also had a professional command of the stage. As you would expect these two heavyweights delivered a knockout of a competition finale. While I always hate the recycled song choices, and don't get me started on the generally nauseating coronation songs, this was a very enjoyable way to close the competition part of the season.
The celebrated Tony-nominated costume designer Carrie Robbins (Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS, GREASE, OVER HERE!), who has designed over 30 Broadway productions, turns playwright this spring with the world-premiere of two one-act plays, SAWBONES and THE DIAMOND EATER, running tonight, May 21st through June 7th Off-Broadway at the HERE Arts Center (145 Sixth Ave.) in NYC. Opening night is May 22nd.
No matter what happens in tonight's performances, Jena not only deserves to be crowned this season's champ, but IDOL needs her to be crowned this season's champ. It is no secret that the once indomitable singing competition has taken an unceremonious dive in the ratings in recent years. While the show's total numbers are respectable in this proliferated entertainment environment, if the show is ever to reclaim even a piece to its previous status as a cultural touchstone, it needs to again produce a star that reminds America of the show's power.
Coming immediately on the heels of the always emotionally taxing Hometown visits, each of Season XIII's remaining Idols performed three songs on Wednesday's penultimate performance show. The first round was made up of songs suggested by the surprisingly not-worthless 'full-time' mentor, Randy Jackson. The next round was songs that the judging panel of Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick Jr. selected, and the final round consisted of songs the Top-3 had previously performed on the show and were determined by their hometown fans (and by hometown fans, I mean the show's producers).
Harry Connick Jr. stopped by last night's LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN and shared a photo of a recent transatlantic flight in which he was sitting behind actor Leonard Nimoy.
The Buck Creek Players will continue their 40th Anniversary Season 'Fabulous at 40' with the Indianapolis premiere of Carrie: The Musical, opening Friday, May 30th, and continuing for a limited run three weekends through Sunday, June 15th.
Tonight, May 8th, If/Then star Idina Menzel will appear on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman to perform a number from the the new Broadway musical. Actor James Franco will also appear as a guest on the broadcast.
Fresh off its recent Tchaikovsky production at BAM Fisher, the Ensemble of the Romantic Century (ERC) presents another fully staged theatrical concert interweaving drama and music about one of the most famous trials of the 19th century. Delivered by a top-caliber cast in an intimate setting, The Trial of Oscar Wilde focuses on the tragic shackling, public scrutiny, and subsequent imprisonment of the homosexual playwright/writer Oscar Wilde (1854-1900). A script based on Wilde's correspondence, plays, and short stories (performed by Broadway's Michael Halling as Oscar Wilde and esteemed Robert Ian Mackenzie as Lord Queensbury) provides a dramatic backdrop for chamber music by French and English composers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries including Chausson's masterful Concerto for violin, piano and string quartet, and works by Satie, Elgar, Faure and Franck in performances by the dynamic Amphion String Quartet, violinist Susie Park, pianist Max Barros and a romping barbershop quartet.
On Thursday, May 8th, IF/THEN star Idina Menzel will appear on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman to perform a number from the the new Broadway musical.
Steinway & Sons has announced that Markus Gottschlich has been added to the roster of Steinway Artists, a select and prestigious group of pianists who have chosen to perform exclusively on The Family of Steinway-Designed pianos.
Keith Urban stepped away from the judge's table on last night's AMERICAN IDOL to sling his guitar on the Idol stage. Below, watch as Keith performed his latest single, "Good Thing!"
As first reported by TVLine.com, AMERICAN IDOL's Top-4 Week is going to take a very IF/THEN look at love with the theme 'Love: Break-Ups and Make-Ups.' So, after last night's elimination of personality vacuum Sam Woolf, IDOL's Final Four; Jena Irene, Caleb Johnson, Jessica Meuse, and Alex Preston, will each take their turns with two songs each that 'celebrate the agony and the ecstasy of music's greatest theme.'
Oh boy! Tonight's elimination episode kicked off with Ryan Seacrest teasing a 'shocking twist' that none of the idols will see coming. After last week's absolutely not-shocking 'shocking' elimination, I was more than a little weary of trusting Ryan. Next he said that each finalist will have a difficult decision to make. I wasn't sure if this would actually end up being 'game-changer' or just another in a long line of IDOL swerves.
